Carton



April 1958 w. G. SHEARD 2,832,466

CARTON Filed Jan. 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM G. SHEARD ATTOR N EYS April 29, 1958 w. G, SHEARD CARTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19. 1954 FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 29, 1958 Filed Jan. 19, 1954 W. G. SHEARD CARTON I A124 WILLIAM G; SHEARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Unied atent CARTON William G. Sheard, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General Container Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 19, 1954, Serial No. 404,933 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-52) This invention relates to containers particularly adapted for enclosing and protecting relatively fiat articles having generally circular peripheries such as coiled tubing and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a carton adapted to completely enclose and protect fiat circular objects of the type mentioned above. Another object of my invention is the provision of a carton made of a pair of identically shaped parts, which carton is not only economical to manufacture but is also convenient to store, ship and assemble. two piece carton which may be secured in assembled form without the use of glue, staples or other securing means.

Another object is the provision of a completely symmetrical carton with parallel fiat sides and no protruding parts. Such a carton may be printed or otherwise marked on either or both sides and further, the shape of the carton is such as to permit safe even stacking of many filled cartons during storage. Another object is the provision of a carton which accomplishes the aforementioned objects and which additionally is provided with a central opening to facilitate carrying of the carton. The transverse narrow walls defining the central opening also provide additional hub-like support for such an article having a transversely extending internal aperture therethrough. Another object is the provision of a foldable carton which may be shipped flat to the point of use and which may thereafter be assembled around the object in a convenient manner without need for special tools or machinery or special skill or" the packer. Another object is the provision of an octagonally shaped carton which supports generally flat circular objects at many points around the periphery of the object and thus prevents same from shifting within the carton during handling and shipping.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan View of blank formed in accordance with my invention and constituting one of the two side members of the carton.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the side member of Figure 1 showing the corner flaps folded inwardly to the position they assume when the carton is fully assembled around the packaged article.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the carton partially assembled with the two side parts fitted together with certain of their respective flaps folded inwardly along the bottom part of the carton and the rest of the flaps opened outwardly along the top to permit insertion of the article into the carton.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carton fully assembled around a coiled article, a portion of the carton being cut away more clearly to show the disposition of the flaps.

Figure 5 is an end View of the assembled carton.

Another object is the provision of a ICC Figure 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank for one side of a modified carton.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 8 with the flaps folded to the position they assume when the carton is fully assembled around the article.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a partially cut away fully assembled modified carton.

My invention comprehends a two element carton for flat circular articles in which both elements or side members are identical in shape and size and are adapted to be interlocked around the article, such as the coiled tubing T shown in the drawing, so as to completely enclose it without the use of glue, staples or other securing means. Each carton side member has a plurality of flaps equally spaced along the periphery of the member and each flap is adapted to be folded to lie along the inner face of the opposite side member when the members are arranged to form a complete carton. The peripheral width of each flap is the same as the spacing between the flaps on each side member and the side members are positioned opposite each other for assembly with the flaps of one member aligned or registered with the spaces between the flaps of the other member so that the peripheral edge of the assembled carton comprises an annular series of portions of alternately folded flaps of the side members. The terminal portions of the folded flaps extend inwardly from the periphery of the assembled carton alongside the interior of the opposite side member and are held in this position by the packaged article which is disposed between the side members. That is to say, the flaps of each side member are positioned between the article and the side of the opposite side member which serves to lock the flaps in place and to hold the two side members together around the article without a need for additional securing means.

Inasmuch as both side members which comprise my carton are identical, it is necessary to describe but one of them. However, in order more clearly to describe the assembly of these two parts into one carton, plain and exponential reference characters will be used to designate like parts of the two side members, respectively.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the carton comprises a pair of identical side members 5 and 5' each of which is cut from a preferably square sheet of corrugated board or similar material, see Figure l. in the embodiment illustrated and as an example of one form of my invention, the blank is cut to provide-the side member 5 with four corner flaps 6 connected to the main body of the side member along fold lines 8. in cutting the blank, the central marginal edge portions 9 are recessed and the sides 10 of the recesses formed at an angle of with the edges 9 to define a portion of the side edges of the flaps 6. Fold lines 8 join adjacent marginal edges 9 at a 45 angle and together with the edges 9 define a regular octagonally shaped section 11 which becomes the side wall of the carton when the latter is assembled. The fold lines S and marginal edges 1i are concentric with the center point of the blank, that is, the fold lines and marginal edges are tangential to a circle having a center at the center point of the blank and having a diameter equal to the diametric spacing of opposite fold lines or marginal edges. A second fold line 12 is formed in each flap 6 parallel to and outwardly spaced from inner fold line 8 and with side edges 10 of the recess define a substantially rectangular section 13 which becomes the transverse peripheral edge wall of .the carton when folded to operative form, as will be explained below.

Patented Apr. 29, 1958 The width of the sections 13, that is, the spacing be tween fold lines and 12, determines the thickness or depth of the assembled container and hence this dimension corresponds generally to the thickness or transverse depth of the article for which the carton is designed. The length of each section 13 between recess edges ltl'isthe same as the length of each of the marginal edges'9 and hence the sections 13 of one side member when folded to extend transversely of the sides of the member lie snugly between the corresponding strips of the other member to form a substantially continuous edge closure for the carton when same is fully assembled. The terminal portion 16 of each flap 6 is substantially triangularly shaped as shown with the apex 17 rounded to facilitate assembly of the carton,

The diametric size of the carton is based on the martimum diameter of the article to be contained therein. In order to provide firm support for the article at several points along its periphery, I prefer that the side member 5 be cut to such a size that the space between diagonally opposed inner fold lines 8 be equal to the outside diameter of the article. Thus when the flaps are folded to the operative position shown in Figure 2, the periphery of the packaged article will engage the mid portions of carton edge walls 13 and will be supported thereby so that shifting of the article in the carton during handling and shipping is prevented.

In order to package an article of the type described in my novel carton, two side members 5 and 5 are selected and several flaps on the members are folded inwardly along respective fold lines 8 and 12 to the positions illustrated in Figure 2. The two side members are then brought together with the folded flaps of each interfitting and with the transverse wall sections 13 of peripherally adjacent flaps in end to end relationship, as illustrated in Figure 3. In this position, the terminal portion 16 of each folded flap lies flush against the interior of the opposite side wall. The unfolded flaps provide an opening of maximum diameter for reception of the article between the side members and into the pocket formed by the interfitting folded flaps. With an octagonal carton embodying my invention, only three flaps need be opened outwardly to provide an edge opening of maximum length and hence a total of five flaps, three on one side member and two on the other, may be prefolded before the article is inserted into the carton.

The article is then passed through the open end of the carton and between the outer portions 16 of the folded flaps until it bottoms against the transverse sections 13 of the folded flaps at which time the article is fully inserted between the side members. The opened flaps are then folded along their respective fold lines 8 and 12, the terminal portions 16 of the flaps being inserted between the article and the opposite side member as shown in Figures 4-7, inclusive, to complete the assembly.

The side members are secured together around the article by reason of the disposition of the terminal portion 16 of each flap between the article and the adjacent carton side member and because of the alternate interlocking arrangement of the flaps. Transverse separation of the side members is thus prevented and since the corrugated board or like material from which my carton is made is relatively stiff, radially outward movement of the tucked in flaps is resisted. That is to say, disengagement of the tucked in flaps can occur only by outward pivoting of the flaps about fold lines 8 and 12 and since such pivoting necessarily tends to swing the flap portions outwardly against the side of the opposite side member, the stillness of the fiap portions, that is, their resistance to bending, serves to prevent accidental unfold ing of the flaps. The carton when asesrnbled around the article is thus self-locking and requires no additional securing means, such as glue, staples and the like.

it will be noted that the flaps of the assembled carton are folded into the interior of the carton and do not overhang the outside parts of the side members. The side walls of the carton are therefore fiat which is advantageous for purposes of safe stacking the filled cartons during storage and shipment. Furthermore, the identify ing marks readily may be printed or otherwise marked on either or both of these flat container sides before the cartons are assembled which simplifies identification of the contents by users and their customers. If desired, the strips 13 of the flaps 6 may be printed with identifylegends to facilitate identification of the contents when stacked.

A modified form of my invention is shown in Figures 8427, inclusive, in which the carton of the type described above has a centrally disposed side opening to facilitate handling and to provide additional hub-like support for tlat articles having a transversely extending aperture thercthrough. The blank or side member 20 from which the modified carton is formed, see Figure 8, is generally similar in shape to the blank of Figure 1,

-' having peripherally spaced outer flaps 21, intermediate straight marginal edges 22 and sets of spaced parallel fold lines 23 and 24 about which the outer flaps 21 are folded to adapt the blank for use as one of the side members of the carton. In order to facilitate interlocking of the outer flaps 21, tabs 21a are provided on the corners of two as shown of the flaps adjacent the outer fold lines 24- thereof. The tabs 21a aid in locking the side members together during the initial stages of assembly of the carton as will appear below.

The side member 20 additionally has a centrally located octagonal section 25 formed with four right isosceles triangular openings 26 located at opposite corners of the octagonal section, each opening 26 being defined by inwardly extending edges 27, constituting the legs of the triangle, and a marginal edge 28 which is the hypotenuse. The openings 26 are diagonally aligned with the outer flaps 21, respectively, of the side member 20, and the marginal edges 28 of each opening 21 extend parallel to the inner and outer fold lines 23 and 24 of the outer flaps 2t Extending between the marginal corners of openings 26 are fold lines 30 which are parallel to proximate outer marginal edges 22 of the side member and which are equal in length to the marginal edges 28 of the openings 26.

The center part of the blank lying within the triangular openings 26 preferably is severed to provide slits 32, 3,3 which extend diagonally between the inner corners of opposite openings 26 and form edges 34 which together with the parallel side edges 27 of adjacent openings 26 define four central flaps 35, each hinged to the main body of the blank along fold line 30. A second fold line 36 is formed in each central flap 35 parallel to and spaced inwardly from each fold line 30, the width of the section 37 between fold lines 30 and 36 being equal to the spacing of fold lines 23 and 24 on the outer flaps 21 and corresponding generally to the transverse dimension or thickness of the article to be contained in the carton.

The procedure of assembling the side members 20 around the article, such as coiled tubing T, includes the initial steps of inwardly folding five of the outer flaps 21 of two side members 20 and 20', that is, three flaps on one and two flaps on the other, successively about their respective fold lines 23, 24 and disposing the side members in juxtaposition with their folded flaps interfitting in the manner described above for side members 5 and 5' and as shown in Figure 3, the unfolded outer flaps 21 opening outwardly to permit entry of the article between the side members. I prefer that the flaps 21 having tabs 21a be thus initially folded so that the tabs will underlie the transverse sections of adjacent flaps when the members are thus preliminarily fitted together and will retain the interfitted flap in their interlocked position. At this stage of the assembly procedure, the central flaps 35 on each side member 21 remain unfolded and lie substantially in the plane of the side wall to which they are attached. It will be noted that when the side members and 20 are properly oriented with respect to each other for interfitting of the outer flaps 21, 21', the octagonal sections 25 of each will be oriented so that the central flaps 35 on one side member will register with the triangular openings 26 of the other side member. After the article has been inserted between the side members 21 through the open or unfolded outer flaps 21, the latter are folded along their respective fold lines 23 and 24 and are interlocked between the article and the opposite side member as described above to close the carton. Thereupon the inner flaps 35 of each side member are folded inwardly along their respective fold lines and 36 to extend across the central opening of the article and radially outwardly between the side wall of the opposite member and the article. Thus the central flaps of each of the side members are alternately interlocked between the opposite side of the enclosed article and the opposite side member in the same manner the outer flaps 21 are interlocked.

When all the central flaps 35 are thus folded and interlocked, the carton is provided withan octagonal central opening 38, see Figure 10, by means of which the carton may be carried or supported. In addition the section 37 of each central flap which becomes a transverse Wall portion when the flap is folded functions as a central hub for the enclosed transversely apertured article which derives internal support therefrom at the junctions or corners of the annular series of the walls 39. Figure 9 illustrates one side member 24) with the outer and inner flaps 21 and 35 thereof in the positions to which they are folded when two such side members are assembled around and enclose the article.

It will be noted that the central flaps 35 of each side member are radially aligned with the outer flaps 21 of the opposite member when the carton is assembled and hence each side member is secured against the side of the article T alternately by the inner flaps 35 and outer flap 21 thereof. The inner flaps 35 of one side member being aligned with the outer marginal edges 22 of that member secure the member in the assembled position at points between the outer flaps 21 thereof so that each side member is held tightly against the article T at al points along the side surface of the member.

While the octagonal cartons described above are illustrative of one shape of carton in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to this octagonal carton. By forming each side member with outer or central and outer flaps in multiples of two, such as two, six, or eight flaps, spaced equally around the member, a carton having outer or inner and outer edges with a number of sides corresponding to the total number of outer or inner flaps on both side members can be provided.

It will be apparent that other modifications and changes to the above described embodiments of my invention may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and it is to be understood that the above description is given by way of example rather than by limitation. The essential characteristics of the invention are summarized in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton for a generally flat sided article having an outside diameter substantially greater than its thickness, comprising two substantially identical members disposed in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of the article, each member having a side wall with a plurality of outer flaps spaced apart equally along the marginal edges of the side wall, each fiap being joined to said side wall along a score line having a length no greater than the peripheral spacing between flaps, said members being disposed on opposite sides of the article with the flaps on one member registered with the spaces between flaps on the other, each flap being folded along said score line to extend a distance equal to the thickness of the article across the periphery of the article and extending between the packaged article and the interior of the side wall of the opposite member for a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the article, said article having a transversely extending aperture therethrough in which the side wall of each member has an even number of concentrically arranged equally spaced central flaps, the central flaps on one member being disposed opposite the space between the central flaps on the opposite member, said central flaps being folded to extend across the space between the side Walls of the member and outwardly between the article and the side wall of the opposite member.

2. A carton for a generally flat sided article having ,an outside diameter substantially greater than its thickness, comprising two substantially identical members disposed in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of the article, each member having a side wall with a plurality of outer flaps spaced apart equally along the marginal edges of the side wall, each flap being joined to said side wall along a score line having a length no greater than the peripheral spacing between flaps, said members being disposed on opposite sides of the article with the flaps on one member registered with the spaces between flaps on the other, each flap being folded along said score line to extend a distance equal to the thickness of the article across the periphery of the article and extending between the packaged article and the interior of the side wall of the opposite member for a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the article, said article having a transversely extending aperture therethrough in which the side wall of each member has an even number of concentrically arranged equally spaced central flaps, the central flaps on one member being disposed opposite the space between the central fiaps on the opposite member, said central flaps being folded to extend across the space between the side walls of the member and outwardly between the article and the side Wall of the opposite member, each central flap being located in radial alignment with the spaces between the outer flaps.

3. A container for a generally flat sided article having an outside diameter substantially greater than its thickness, comprising a pair of members forming side walls and disposed in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of the article, the peripheral edges of the side wall of each member defining a polygon having an even number of sides, alternate edges of each side wall having flaps extending outwardly therefrom, and alternate edges having no flaps extending therefrom, said members being oriented relative to each other with the flaps of one member disposed oppositely of the flapless side wall edges of the other member, a first portion of each flap of said members extending laterally of the side walls of the members a distance corresponding to the thickness of the article to form a peripheral edge wall for the containers, the remaining portion of each flap extending between the side of the article and the side wall of the opposite member, all of said remaining portions of each of said flaps of each member being peripherally spaced from all of the remaining portions of each of the flaps of the other member, said article having a transversely extending aperture therethrough and each member having an'even number of peripherally spaced interior flaps arranged concentrically of said aperture in the side wall portion of the member with the interior flaps on one member being disposed opposite the space between the interior flaps on the opposite member, said interior flaps being folded to extend through the said aperture in the article and outwardly between the article and the side wall of the opposite member.

4. A container for a generally flat sided article having an outside diameter substantially greater than its thickness, comprising a pair of members forming side walls and disposed in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of the article, the peripheral edges of the side wall of each ,9, 4 member defining a polygon having an even number of sides, alternate edges of each side wall having flaps extending outwardly therefrom, and alternate edges having no flaps extending therefrom, said members being oriented relative to each other with the flaps of one member disposed oppositely of the fiapless side wall edges of the other member, a first portion of each flap of said members extending laterally of the side walls of the members a distance corresponding to the thickness of the article to form a peripheral edge wall for the containers, the remaining portion of each flap extending between the side of the article and the side Wall of the opposite member, all of said remaining portions of each of said flaps of each member being peripherally spaced from all of the revmaining portions of each of the flaps of the other member, said article having a transversely extending aperture therethrough and each member having an even number of peripherally spaced interior flaps arranged concentrically of said aperture in the side wall portion of the member with the interior flaps on one member being disposed opposite the space between the interior flaps on the opposite member, said interior flaps being folded to extend through the said aperture in the article and outwardly between the article and the side wall of the opposite member, each said interior flap having a first portion extending laterally of the side walls of the member a distance corresponding to the thickness of the article and a second portion extending between the side of the article and the side wall of the opposite member, all of the second portions of each interior flap being peripherally spaced from all of the second portions of each of the interior flaps of the other member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,050 Carman Apr. 28, 1896 1,121,947 Surmann Dec. 22, 1914 1,690,883 Ziegler Nov. 6, 1928 2,064,590 Cunningham Dec. 15, 1936 2,307,076 Ray Jan. 5, 1943 2,652,922 Scheweich Sept. 22, 1953 2,706,592 Schaller Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,923 Great Britain 2. Oct. 18, 1940 

